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One of my favorite parts about living in our “new” hometown is how close we live to my parents. We often find ourselves over at their house for dinner on Sunday nights, and the evenings typically consist of continuous laughing and … Continue reading →

As I mentioned before, Eric and I recently bought our first home. And although we were excited to move into our new place, it was a bit sad to say goodbye to the first place we shared. We lived in … Continue reading →

As much as I love living in Michigan…I gotta say, I am getting really sick of this cold weather. Maybe we’ve just been spoiled the last couple of years, but usually by mid March, 20 degree weather is a thing of the past. Last year, we were blessed with 60 degree temperatures and plenty of sunshine by St. Patrick’s Day. 2013 is a different story. Nowadays I get really excited if it’s above 30 degrees in the middle of the day. And the biggest bummer is that these somewhat frigid temperatures are totally screwing up my running schedule. I know, I know. First world problems. But having to bundle up with layer after layer of under armour is definitely making training for my next race a little less fun. I have a 10K in 3 weeks and am having a hard time fitting in longer distances without having my lungs freeze…or ya know, falling flat on my face and breaking my finger.

Yeah, that happened. A few weeks ago I slipped on some ice at 6am and wound up with a swollen and purple index finger. But once I got to work, my boss whipped out a makeshift splint for me which obviously left me looking super cool. What can I say? I have a talent for attracting catostrophes. But I must say, the one upside to the cooler temperatures is I’ve had a little more time to try out the warm winter-y recipes I’ve been saving. Like this recipe from Sweet Tooth Sweet Life. This soup is warm and comforting, and thanks to the mini meatballs is total “guy food.” (but it is still pretty healthy) I used medium size shell pasta the first time I made it, but I would recommend using macaroni noodles or mini shells because the pasta does tend to soak up a good amount of the broth. The result is a rich tomato soup perfect for a chilly winter…or spring evening.

Ingredients: Adapted from Sweet Tooth Sweet Life

Mini Meatballs: Makes 40 mini meatballs

1 pound lean ground beef

1/4 finely diced onion

1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs

2 large egg whites

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

Soup

2 teaspoons olive oil

1/2 cup finely diced onion

3 teaspoons minced garlic

2 cans ( 10.5 oz each) lower sodium beef broth

1 can (28 oz) Italian style diced tomatoes

1 cup mini pasta shells or macaroni

Preparation:

In a large bowl, place all meatball ingredients and mix well until spices are well incorporated (mixing with your hands is the easiest way!)

Roll mixture into 1 inch balls and place on a greased cookie sheet, evenly spaced

Bake at 400 for 12-15 minutes, or until cooked through

In a large soup pot, place 2 teaspoons olive oil and heat over medium heat

Add onions and let cook for 2-3 minutes, or until onions begin to soften

Nothing quite says “indulgence” like a heaping bowl of fresh pasta. Yet those oversized portions that we often find in our favorite Italian eateries don’t always fit very well into healthy lifestyles. So what do we do when we’re craving an oversized bowl of noodles but don’t want to sacrifice our healthy eating? We make this dish. This vegetarian “pasta” dish is bursting with the flavors and textures that will satisfy your pasta craving, yet pasta is actually missing from the ingredient list. I recently discovered Pasta Slim Linguine, which is made from fresh spinach. It has the same texture and flavor of traditional linguine, yet only contains about 30 calories per serving. Add this incredibly healthy “pasta” to a mixture of sauteed vegetables and fresh parmesan cheese and you have yourself a deliciously healthy dinner. So go ahead and have as big a bowl as you’d like.

“Leave the gun, take the cannoli.” It is that famous line from The Godfather that made me love the movie. Because let’s be honest… why on earth would you let a perfectly good dessert go to waste? I think the Italians just have it right. Food is an important part of Italian life and has always been a defining part of their culture. There are an endless number of Italian proverbs centering around the importance of food, and countless books written about Italian cooking. Maybe that is why I’ve always envied those with Italian roots. The emphasis put on food is something that speaks to me. Cooking with my family is one of my very favorite pastimes. And the time and labor that goes into make homemade pasta or tirimisu is to me an exciting challenge rather than a tedious task. But despite my envy for the Italian heritage…being of Irish descent does have it’s benefits. We get to enjoy the festive Irish music and the signature scones filled with raisins and currants. And then again, there is my Irish mother who often operates like an Italian. In her mind, most ailments are usually a result of being hungry. You have a headache? Go eat something. You’re tired? Go eat something. You might be getting a cold? For goodness sake, go eat something. So maybe the Italians and the Irish aren’t so different. After all, it was Oscar Wilde, a fellow Irishman who said ” I cannot stand people who do not take food seriously.” So to celebrate this worldy love of food, I decided to take a cue from the Italians and make a twist on a classic dessert. These cannoli cupcakes are comprised of a moist vanilla cake filled with the classic ricotta filling found in a cannoli. They can be made in both regular sized cupcakes or as the delectable bite sized minis. Either way, I’m pretty sure Michael Corleone and Oscar Wilde would be fans.

So I’m sure you are wondering why I eat so much pasta. And I will give you some answers. Because I wouldn’t want you to lose sleep or anything. 1. I love me some pasta. Anyone who knows me well, … Continue reading →

I’ll admit it. My dad is pretty awesome. (both my parents are for that matter, but because it was just his birthday, we’ll discuss good ‘ol Gregg) I’m pretty sure I inherited my love of food from him. Because that … Continue reading →